What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction?
Sensory Integration Dysfunction is an irregularity or disorder in the brain function that makes it difficult to receive, or make sense of, sensory input. This may include information received from sights, sounds, smells, tastes, temperatures, pain or the movement and position of the body. When the brain misinterprets the sensory information, odd or repetitive behaviors may be observed.
Sensory integration dysfunction is an inability to pull together and understand the sensory information from the internal environment of one’s own body and from the external environment of objects and people.Everyone experiences difficulties in pulling together this type of information at one time or another, particularly during periods of growth, change or stress. However, people who have sensory integration dysfunction consistently experience these difficulties throughout most of their day and these difficulties impact their performance at home, work or school and at play.
SI Dysfunction, sometimes called DSI, is associated with Autism Spectrum diagnoses, but can also be a stand-alone condition or co-exist with other diagnoses, including ADHD and Cerebral Palsy. Although unproven, some Occupational Therapists and other professionals who work with individuals with the disorder believe it is a symptom of the brain’s inability to sort and prioritize information coming in from the various senses in a typical fashion.
